"So, Headquarters had no choice but to send me here to the West Blue, to give it one last shot."
Gion idly twirled a strand of her hair around her finger, clearly bored.
"As for the reason, well, Rear Admiral Chishio is a close friend of my sister and has watched me grow up. Maybe if I'm the one to come, the chances of persuading her will be a bit higher."
Hearing this, Nao finally understood what Gion had meant earlier when she said this mission wasn't about strength—it was about "this face" of hers.
"But I've never even met Rear Admiral Chishio. Wouldn't it be obvious I'm an impostor?" Nao's expression twisted with worry. "Besides, I'm terrible at smooth-talking people into doing things."
"Relax. I haven't seen Rear Admiral Chishio in years myself. I'll explain everything you need to know before you leave."
Gion waved it off like it was no big deal. "Besides, the odds of success for this mission are already low. If you pull it off, it's a huge accomplishment. If not, there won't be any serious consequences. What are you so afraid of?"
"…Fine. If you're putting it that way…"
After a moment's thought, Nao gave a reluctant nod.
Honestly, it felt like he didn't have much of a choice in the matter. "When do I leave?"
"In about three days."
Kuzan, who had been silent up to this point, spoke up from the side. "Assuming smooth sailing, the ship will dock at Gull Island in the West Blue for resupply three mornings from now. That's where the 329th Branch Base is located. Once you're ashore, you can use the base's intelligence channels to locate Rear Admiral Chishio's exact address."
"After the mission, whether successful or not, you'll just need to wait at the branch base for about three or four days until our ship returns to pick you up and head back to Headquarters."
"Got it."
The process was simple and clear. Anyone could follow it.
Once Nao had grasped the details, and seeing that neither Kuzan nor Gion had anything else to add, he saluted them, preparing to leave.
"Hold it!"
Before he could push the door open, a sharp voice stopped him. He turned back instinctively to find Gion glaring at him.
"Where do you think you're going? Back to your room?"
"Uh… yeah?" Nao blinked, gesturing out the window. "It's already late, Rear Admiral Gion. If I don't get some sleep, I won't be able to wake up early tomorrow."
"Wake up early, my foot!"
For once, Gion's face showed a hint of flustered annoyance. "Don't forget, you're in my body right now. You can't just go back to a room full of male marines! What kind of behavior is that supposed to be?"
"…" Nao's face lit up with realization. For a moment, he was at a loss. "Then… what should I do?"
"Stay here!"
Gion's tone brooked no argument, her expression firm. "Not just tonight—until you leave for the mission, you'll be sleeping in my room!"
"Alright…" Nao was startled by her sudden assertiveness. After a pause, he remembered something important. "But, Rear Admiral Gion, what about my friends? There were quite a few people on deck who saw us faint. Do they know about the body swap?"
"They don't know—yet."
Gion hesitated briefly, then sighed. "But I'll tell them soon. There's no reason to keep this hidden, especially since you won't be able to join the combat assessment. They'll need to know the reason."
That was reasonable. Nao let out a relieved breath.
He had been worried Gion would insist on keeping it secret, forcing him to awkwardly pretend to be her for three days around his friends.
—That would've been exhausting just to think about.
"Alright, since everything's settled, I'll be going then."
Kuzan stood up, still holding the chubby sea raccoon. He lifted its tiny paw and waved it at the two of them. "Alright, little one, say goodbye to the two poor souls you've messed with."
"Get lost!"
A second later, Gion, fuming, grabbed a stack of books and hurled them at Kuzan, who ducked and fled, laughing as he dashed out the door.
Once Kuzan's footsteps faded, the room fell into silence again.
"…"
Nao glanced at Gion, who had returned to her seat at the desk, and hesitated before asking, "Rear Admiral Gion, are you… sleeping here tonight?"
"Mhm."
Gion gave him a sidelong glance and hummed lightly. "Relax. You'll keep your bed. I'll just sleep on the floor."
"That's not right!" Nao shot to his feet. "This is your room—I should be the one to sleep on the floor!"
"That's an order, little one. I'm not debating this."
Gion, looking a little sleepy, raised her right hand to cover a yawn. "It's already indulgent enough to let you stay here. Making you sleep on the floor too? I'm not that unreasonable."
"What was that?" Nao asked, not quite catching her last words.
"Nothing."
Gion waved him off and paced the room, eventually stopping by a door on the right wall.
"Follow me."
"Uh, okay."
Nao followed her obediently. He was surprised to discover that Gion's room was actually a suite, with a separate bathroom just beyond the door.
Gion stopped in front of the shower, adjusting the water temperature silently.
It was only then that Nao realized what was happening.
Before he could react, Gion turned, produced a cloth strip from somewhere, and tied it over his eyes.
"I'm a bit of a clean freak. Unless it's an emergency, I bathe every day," she said softly, her voice—a clear version of his own—echoing close to his ear. "Even if we've swapped bodies, I can't stand the thought of going to bed unwashed. You understand?"
"Y-Yes…"
No response came immediately. After a pause, her voice continued, faintly:
"For the next three days, I'll help you bathe. Once we reach Gull Island, if possible, I hope you can endure it for a few days until we're back aboard the ship… and not bathe."
Though his vision was blocked, Nao could almost feel Gion's unease and vulnerability, so unlike her usual confident demeanor.
He remained silent.
Then, abruptly, he burst into laughter. "Oh, come on, is that all? I'd be thrilled! You don't know this, Rear Admiral—I hate bathing! When training gets intense, I can go one or two weeks without a shower. Three or four days is nothing!"
"Zephyr-sensei always told us—hmm, how did it go? Oh yeah: any Marine recruit in the training camp who still has the energy to think about bathing at the end of the day isn't a real soldier!"
"A real man makes sure his bed and pillow reek of sweat!"
"Disgusting."
Gion flicked his forehead with her finger. "I don't recall Zephyr ever saying that. You're making things up, you little rascal."
"He really said it! I swear on my life!"
"Then I'll just ask Zephyr myself when we get back to Marineford?"
"…I was wrong, ma'am."
"Hmph, I thought so. Now enough with the nonsense! Raise your arms—I'll undress you."
"O-Okay."
As soon as Nao complied, Gion began to shower him.
The feel of warm water cascading down his skin was utterly unfamiliar. When Gion lathered him with shampoo and body wash, scrubbing him with her hands, Nao finally understood the true meaning of mixed pain and pleasure.
No matter how tough the elite training at Headquarters, it couldn't compare to the sheer torment—and weird delight—of this moment.